Vanning.com logo
Boxdin
Site Navigation


Advertisements
Recent Posts
Good day
by lukester - March 28th 2024 12:26 pm
Crazy mods
by MufflerMan Mike - March 28th 2024 9:38 am
Lew Greger
by MufflerMan Mike - March 27th 2024 5:15 pm
1987 G20 Gypsy
by SDMickey - March 25th 2024 9:39 pm
Featured Links


Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Page 2 of 6 1 2 3 4 5 6
Re: Have An Idiot Light Lit
Cherry #565263 May 28th 2012 11:43 pm
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 7,662
Likes: 2
W
carpal tunnel
Offline
carpal tunnel
W
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 7,662
Likes: 2
This van is NOT fuel injected it still has a carb.
At least it still has a carb style fuel pump on the drivers side of the engine.
My EGR diagnoses was because it is leaking exhaust and the donuts in the exhaust was tight.
A bad EGR vale will do this

The van never made it to my place to pull the dog house cover.

........Wookee


Its a "Van Thing"
A life style you have to LIVE to understand!

[Linked Image]

Vintage Chevy Van Club
Re: Have An Idiot Light Lit
Cherry #565270 May 29th 2012 12:52 am
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,460
D
pooh-bah
Offline
pooh-bah
D
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,460
My idiot light is on too, use Reed's guide to pull the codes or take it to a mechanic if need be. Mine ended up being half a dozen different sensors.


2003 Grand Caravan

Member Vanatics Van Club-Spfld, IL
Member Florida Van Council
Member Central Florida Vans,-Orlando, FL

[Linked Image]

Re: Have An Idiot Light Lit
Cherry #565303 May 29th 2012 8:37 am
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 271
Cherry Offline OP
enthusiast
OP Offline
enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 271
When I bought the van the dude had the bottom port of the vacuum switch unhooked. When I reattached the hose the van stalled so I replaced the switch with a new one and had no further stalling problems. Would unhooking this again help me in any way?

Yes, my van has a carb.

Yes, I need to get out of this heat which is why after tomorrow I will be starting night driving towards Maine to get this fixed before heading back down for Provanity and then to MD for July (which is where the hot temp is going to be a big issue)

Being here in the middle of nowhere at a RV park with a giant hill to climb when I leave is a bit of a nightmare so I'm going to stay here another night to get my shit together and figure out where exactly I'm heading.


[Linked Image]
'87 Ford e250 Starcraft camper van v8 5.8L 351W-HO
Wayward Pussy Inn|Facebook
Re: Have An Idiot Light Lit
Cherry #565308 May 29th 2012 8:57 am
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,211
Likes: 25
N
Supreme Master
Offline
Supreme Master
N
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,211
Likes: 25
The overheating issue is your biggest problem right now. Since the thermostat is new, I dare say that the radiator is plugged up...internally. 44,000 miles isn't much, but it's the age. With that low of mileage, the van did a lot of sitting. Somehow I doubt the original owner took much care of the cooling system.

A new radiator would be the ticket.


If the EGR valve is leaking exhaust, it should be replaced and as far as the EGR light goes, I agree that it's a timer to kick that light on after a pre-determined amount of miles to service the EGR system. Dodges had the same thing. It needs to be reset.



http://www.ebay.com/itm/1987-FORD-L...ture&hash=item4603ae3fac&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1987-FORD-B...ture&hash=item256b7bd5e3&vxp=mtr


Nate Breece
Re: Have An Idiot Light Lit
Reed #565339 May 29th 2012 10:59 am
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,750
Likes: 13

Offline

Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,750
Likes: 13
Originally Posted by Reed
DO NOT DISCONNECT THE EGR VALVE LINE AND PLUG IT. The fuel injection system is designed to have a functioning EGR valve and it will not hurt performance if left in place.


if the EGR vavle is leaking in any way, when it opens, the van will run like shit and have no power till it closes again (first hand experience here) - disconnected mine and have had no problems since.

I am also in agreement with Nate about the overheating needing to be addressed sooner than later.

did you guys flush out the system when you changed the thermostat? if not, I would try that first.. also, look at the front of your radiator, make sure it isn't caked up with crap that could be blocking airflow.
a new radiotor shouldn't be too hard to swap out in that, gotta be easier than my Astro was!


90 Astro - "The Grey Ghost" - Haulin Ass, Not kids.

E-Z Vanners and West Vanners
Council of Councils Board Member
National Truck-in Board Support Team

[Linked Image]

"No matter where you go, there you are."
"If you can't do something smart, Do something right"
"There are three kinds of people in the world, those who can count, and those who can't"
Re: Have An Idiot Light Lit
Cherry #565348 May 29th 2012 11:42 am
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 271
Cherry Offline OP
enthusiast
OP Offline
enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 271
What kills me about the temperature gauge is that it'll go from about half way to just buried in the red and then be fine.

It did it twice yesterday.

I didn't flush the radiator when I changed the thermostat but I pretty much emptied and refilled it if that counts.


[Linked Image]
'87 Ford e250 Starcraft camper van v8 5.8L 351W-HO
Wayward Pussy Inn|Facebook
Re: Have An Idiot Light Lit
Cherry #565350 May 29th 2012 11:44 am
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,182
R
veteran
Offline
veteran
R
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,182
If the clutch on the fan is goin out itll cause it to run hot.


[Linked Image][Linked Image]
Re: Have An Idiot Light Lit
Cherry #565357 May 29th 2012 11:59 am
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,772
pooh-bah
Offline
pooh-bah
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,772
If the gauge is going from hot to normal then you have an air pocket in the cooling system.
Turn your heat to hot while putting water in. They can be fun to get out.


The only Stephentown on earth.
I don't mind Coming to work,
but that 8hr wait to go home is a bitch.
No matter how little I do,
I always feel I could do less.
"The only thing wrong with a perfect drive to work is that you
end up at work."
NOVA VANS
1990 Dodge B150
Re: Have An Idiot Light Lit
Cherry #565378 May 29th 2012 12:55 pm
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 12,107
Likes: 37
Maniac
Offline
Maniac
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 12,107
Likes: 37
1987 was the crossover year for fuel injection on the 300. Some 300s got it, some kept the carb. Ford carbed systems from this era are a PITA to maintain. You can still pull trouble codes from the computer on a carbed vehicle. If the EGR IS leaking, then it definitely needs to get replaced since that will affect the O2 sensor reading and mess up how the engine runs.

I agree the overheating is the biggest issue. Just because the thermostat is new doesn't mean it is working properly. I and many other guys I know have had new thermostats be faulty out of the box. Have you tested the sending unit for the factory temp gauge or otherwise verified that the engine is really overheating? Sending units can also fail.

Do like Dr. Bob says and first check for air pockets. If that doesn't fix it, flush the radiator (reverse flush at a shop, no garden hose methods). If THAT doesn't fix it, time to start thinking about a new radiator.

Last edited by Reed; May 29th 2012 12:59 pm.

Windows- they're what make a van worth owning!
Page 2 of 6 1 2 3 4 5 6

Moderated by  Astro, Uncle_Fester 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Donate


Upcoming Events
discovery
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 30 guests, and 5 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
TheDrunkenGunsmith, Jac, LOVclassics, ZenMuffin, Milkman530
12724 Registered Users
Top Posters (30 Days)
SDMickey 129
CatFish 25
frscke1 25
Wedgy 21
Forum Statistics
Forums68
Topics35,746
Posts537,916
Members12,725
Most Online177
May 8th, 2013

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.4